I wish to initiate Fourteen Points to reasonably and legitimately establish a foundation for UD Science Olympiad, both present and future: 1. Actively recruit, especially through Club Fair and Chemistry Club pitches. 2. Establish a reasonable and fair club-credit system based on contribution to the UDSO database, or accomplishment at the regional competition. 3. Preschedule every meeting at the beginning of the school year so that things get done. 4. Organize new “Computer-Lab Research & Binder-Making” meetings to increase the UDSO database, to be passed down to future members. 5. Organize new “Team Building” meetings, in which the whole club works together to build event projects and team spirit. 6. Begin fundraising so that building projects (including Maglev) are possible. 7. Organize new “General Studying” meetings to promote in-school preparation. 8. Continue “Testing” meetings to help indicate individual progress. 9. Continue “Officer” meetings to evaluate overall progress. 10. Increase the managing role of Coordinators. 11. Divide normal officer roles (Secretary, Treasurer, etc.) amongst Coordinators to increase organization. 12. Seek out unofficial competitions to both practice and take notes on the ideas and projects of competitors. 13. Design and order team shirts to raise team spirit. 14. Organize a Celebration Party at the end of the UDSO season to celebrate our new friendships and accomplishments.
David Zeng
This is my third year on the Upper Dublin Science Olympiad team and my second year as an officer. I only mention this because throughout these three years, I have gained a better understanding of what needs to be done to improve this team. So far, every year, the officer team has promised to improve this club with some new idea, ranging from having regular testing meetings to creating group resources that everyone can contribute to. Yet, it is apparent that none of these have yielded any meaningful results(although we did almost get 10th this year). Making up and saying that we can improve our club by implementing a bunch of new ideas or changes, and then not having the persistence to follow through properly is not going to make a difference.
Instead, the only thing we need to focus on is the fact that as a team, we all need to be more serious about preparing for the competition. We need to have more meetings, at the very least every few weeks, and be productive in those meetings, whether that involves studying, building, or anything else that will be helpful to bettering ourselves at next year’s events. Given the talent pool of the returning members and hopefully, the new members next year, there is no reason we can’t achieve top 8 and make it to states (and of course, beat our arch-nemesis Harriton). I ask you to take the leap of faith and next year, put both time and effort into a club that for the past few years has been somewhat of a hacked together last minute effort so that we can transform this team into something that we can be proud about.
Michael Deng
I wish to initiate Fourteen Points to reasonably and legitimately establish a foundation for UD Science Olympiad, both present and future:1. Actively recruit, especially through Club Fair and Chemistry Club pitches.
2. Establish a reasonable and fair club-credit system based on contribution to the UDSO database, or accomplishment at the regional competition.
3. Preschedule every meeting at the beginning of the school year so that things get done.
4. Organize new “Computer-Lab Research & Binder-Making” meetings to increase the UDSO database, to be passed down to future members.
5. Organize new “Team Building” meetings, in which the whole club works together to build event projects and team spirit.
6. Begin fundraising so that building projects (including Maglev) are possible.
7. Organize new “General Studying” meetings to promote in-school preparation.
8. Continue “Testing” meetings to help indicate individual progress.
9. Continue “Officer” meetings to evaluate overall progress.
10. Increase the managing role of Coordinators.
11. Divide normal officer roles (Secretary, Treasurer, etc.) amongst Coordinators to increase organization.
12. Seek out unofficial competitions to both practice and take notes on the ideas and projects of competitors.
13. Design and order team shirts to raise team spirit.
14. Organize a Celebration Party at the end of the UDSO season to celebrate our new friendships and accomplishments.
David Zeng
This is my third year on the Upper Dublin Science Olympiad team and my second year as an officer. I only mention this because throughout these three years, I have gained a better understanding of what needs to be done to improve this team. So far, every year, the officer team has promised to improve this club with some new idea, ranging from having regular testing meetings to creating group resources that everyone can contribute to. Yet, it is apparent that none of these have yielded any meaningful results(although we did almost get 10th this year). Making up and saying that we can improve our club by implementing a bunch of new ideas or changes, and then not having the persistence to follow through properly is not going to make a difference.Instead, the only thing we need to focus on is the fact that as a team, we all need to be more serious about preparing for the competition. We need to have more meetings, at the very least every few weeks, and be productive in those meetings, whether that involves studying, building, or anything else that will be helpful to bettering ourselves at next year’s events. Given the talent pool of the returning members and hopefully, the new members next year, there is no reason we can’t achieve top 8 and make it to states (and of course, beat our arch-nemesis Harriton). I ask you to take the leap of faith and next year, put both time and effort into a club that for the past few years has been somewhat of a hacked together last minute effort so that we can transform this team into something that we can be proud about.